Wednesday, August 30, 2017

August 30, 1867 – A forewarning of
things to come is issued at 4:00 a.m. when a fire is discovered on the second
floor of a five-story brick building situated at No. 20 State Street, the approximate
location today of the Tortoise Club just north of Marina City. The fire in a building that houses the David
Henry wholesale liquor dealer and importers is well underway before it is
discovered and destroys an entire block of businesses before it is brought
under control. The David Henry Co.
values its stock at about $70,000 with only $17,500 covered by insurance. Other adjoining businesses suffer as well …
what fire doesn’t claim, water from the efforts of the fire brigade ruins. A narrow alley runs along the south side of
the David Henry building, and much of the water used to douse the fire runs
into the rear of basements extending back from Lake Street, ruining much of the
stock in buildings that are not affected by the flames. It will be a little over four years later
that a fire will destroy most of the city, but the fire on State Street on this
day shows how quickly things could get out of hand in a city built principally
of wood. The block that burned is shown as it appears today in the above photo.

August 30, 1891 – The Chicago Daily Tribune greets news that a new art museum will be built on the lakefront with an editorial in its favor. “The most important feature of the scheme, however, is the securing of a permanent art gallery for the city of sufficient dimensions to meet all demands for long years to come . . . It may be anticipated that the new structure will be as perfect as money and skill can make it, and as beautiful as artistic taste can suggest . . . something which will more clearly reflect the growth of enterprise, skill, and artistic taste in the World’s Fair City.” The paper, and the city along with it, got its wish.